in my life than having let you go alone; all those reasons which appeared to me so cogent before we parted, seem as the merest trifles now I have you no longer with me. If my present uneasiness do not subside, the sale of the Hertfordshire house and the dippings at Brighton must take their chance, and I shall be down at Eagle's Crag, it may be as soon as yourself. With you on my arm, I should perhaps be better able to face the shadowy terrors and vain regrets that have kept me from the residence of my ancestors, or have scared me away when I have gone thither. Dearest Isabella farewell! I would not miss the post for the world, and I have not another moment. Kiss my boy for me - I wish I could kiss both him and you for myself."

Isabella had never before had a letter from Mr. Willoughby.-There was

nothing that she so little expected as that he would write to her otherwise than as a matter of course, or to communicate his wishes or his orders. -She thought she was in a dream.Were those words really addressed to her? and how unworthy was she of them! she had not written! she had not counted the hours as they passed! she had thought more of herself than of him; their only feeling in common was their affection for their boy! but if she could have flattered herself that she was regretted, how severe would have been her regrets! she was sure, in that case nothing could have tempted her to have separated herself from him. Perhaps he may be here to-morrow, and then he will see in my delight how sincere has been my sorrow to have left him.

These were the thoughts that were suspended in her eager desire to re

new the happiness that she felt in perusing letters so fond, so flattering. The next in order was conceived in these terms:

Dear Isabella, I could half laugh at myself for the miserable way I was in all Tuesday. I was really never more uneasy in my life, which was being completely ridiculous; for certainly you and Godfrey were in no danger of being run away with, or robbed, or murdered. I hope, indeed I feel assured, that you did not experience the least difficulty. Travelling is absolutely a joke in Eng-land. I shall be glad, however, to hear that you are both safe and well; and I hope it would occur to you to write to me, if not from your first sleeping-place, at least from the second. I find a thousand plagues here, and great difficulties in disposing of this place, at least at the price which

I am told it is worth. I was worried to death all yesterday: I feel quite nervous and relaxed. I am afraid that I must have a little sea; and if I hear that you are well, and that you like Eagle's Crag, I shall not grudge myself what will enable me the better to enjoy your society when we do meet. Farewell, my love!"

Isabella laid down the letter. Tears were in her eyes; yet but ten minutes before she would have thought herself but too happy to have had such an one from the same hand.

If I had written, thought she, the wish for my letter might have been lost before it could have arrived; yet I shall never forgive myself for not writing. But there is a third letter, languidly breaking the seal. Oh ! how happy shall I be if it is like the first. She read as follows:

"I am hurried to death, and can

get nothing done that I wish. It will be impossible that I should join you as soon as I had hoped. I must go to Brighton. Don't let Edwards return without a letter; and tell me whether you were frightened out of your wits by the tremendous descent to Eagle's Crag. Tell me how you like everything there; and pray tell Roberts that he must make as large a remittance to Dawkins as he can I shall want it all, if I don't sell Beechwood. Pray make yourself very comfortable, and keep my boy in health. Yours sincerely, F. Willoughby."

The paper fell from Isabella's hands, and the tears gushed in torrents from her eyes. She could neither speak nor think. She could scarcely believe that she was the happy, the transported being, that had stood in the same spot so short a moment before. She felt how the different style of